Shloka 14
Varṇāśrama-ācāra and Vikarma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Safe Dharmas (शिवधर्मप्रश्नः)
सत्यार्जवं चातिथिपूजनं च धर्मस्तथार्थश्ष रति: स्वदारै: | निषेवितव्यानि सुखानि लोके हास्मिन् परे चैव मतं ममैतत्
satyārjavaṃ cātithipūjanaṃ ca dharmas tathārthaś ca ratiḥ svadāraiḥ | niṣevitavyāni sukhāni loke hāsmin pare caiva mataṃ mamaitat ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Véracité et droiture, honorer les hôtes, poursuivre le dharma et l’artha, avec une affection fidèle envers sa propre épouse : tels sont les plaisirs légitimes qu’un maître de maison doit cultiver en ce monde. Lorsqu’on les pratique, le bonheur est obtenu ici et dans l’au-delà ; telle est mon opinion mûrement pesée.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder should cultivate truth, integrity, hospitality, and the balanced pursuit of dharma and artha, while remaining devoted within marriage; such disciplined, righteous enjoyment yields well-being both in this life and the next.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising on right conduct; here he summarizes key virtues and legitimate enjoyments for the householder stage of life and links them to happiness here and hereafter.